After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 36

Joseph and I started dating, but our demanding jobs meant we rarely had time to see each other.

Most of our encounters took place in war-torn regions-he'd be rushing to treat the wounded, while I'd be in the operating room, fighting to save lives.

A fleeting touch as we brushed past each other was often the only connection we shared.

The patchy network signal didn't help either. Days would pass without hearing from each other, but then, out of nowhere, my phone would buzz nonstop as messages flooded in. They were disorganized, chaotic, as if they too had braved gunfire and destruction, but they carried the weight of longing and steadfast affection.

The situation in North Kivu grew increasingly dire.

Our first argument happened on the day a village near Goma was attacked.

When we arrived, the armed militants hadn't fully retreated, and the security forces were still exchanging fire with them.

We rushed back to the vehicle, preparing to evacuate, but Joseph suddenly jumped out of the ambulance.

There, at the edge of the battlefield, lay a collapsed villager.

Joseph hoisted the man onto his back and carried him to safety, his own body cut and bleeding from shrapnel.

I was furious and terrified, yelling at him, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

But he stood his ground. "I'm a doctor! I couldn't just leave him there! His leg was injured, but he could've survived. If I didn't save him, he would've died for sure!"

I knew he was right, and I knew it was his duty to save lives.

covered in blood-so much blood I couldn't tell which was his and which wasn't-my composure

examination and realizing his injuries were only superficial, I broke down, clutching

can't lose anyone else! If something happened to you, what

there silently for a moment before

I'll be more careful. I won't put myself in danger, and I won't make

I buried my face in his chest. "You have to

a pinky swear," he said, taking my

swear, whoever breaks it will turn into

help but laugh through my tears. "If you really turn into a puppy,

I introduce you to my

puppy boyfriend?" he teased,

pretending to be dead. Panicked, I quickly pulled the pillow away, only to see his sly smile

to say: See? I'm not that easy

my eyes stung and blurred

how precious every single day

Ebola virus began its relentless

severe shortage of medical staff, he shuttled back and forth between refugee

groups launched sudden attacks on treatment centers in several cities. Many doctors were forced to abandon their

hand, nearly a hundred patients remained in the

to stay

Goma, cutting off all

tense situation, Joseph suddenly sent me a message, asking me to come to the treatment center.

the medical waste disposal area. Inside an empty room that had been temporarily cleared out, I saw a group of Hutu children—over ten of them.